Davidson declared, in a post on the Australian libertarian blog Catallaxy Files, that he does not receive money from either the tobacco industry or from the IPA.[6] He added that he does not know whether the IPA receives funding from the tobacco industry. “I am not in the pay of big tobacco; I am an academic economist who tests and critiques government policy.”[6]

In the blog post Davidson disclosed that he had been invited in 2016 by the Canadian Convenience Stores Association (CCSA) to present his plain packaging research in Canada, but added that he had not received any payment for the talks.[6] CCSA is funded by fees paid by its members, including Japan Tobacco International and BAT’s wholly owned Canadian subsidiary Imperial Tobacco (not to be confused with Bristol-based Imperial Tobacco).[7]

Against Plain Packaging

Davidson has voiced strong opinions against the tobacco plain packaging policy, which was introduced in December 2012 in Australia, claiming there was no proof that it is effective and that it undermined intellectual property rights.[10][11][12]

Davidson was quoted in the Canadian media saying that Canada’s proposals to introduce plain packaging wouldn’t work if Canada's experience turned out like plain packaging in Australia.[13] He added that plain packaging increased the purchase of illegal and contraband cigarettes and did not have any effect on reducing tobacco smoking prevalence.

In another paper, Davidson claimed that plain packaging policies were not evidence based.[14]

Davidson has also alleged that the Australian Government manipulated its data on plain packaging to show that the policy measure had been successful in the country.[15] According to Davidson, the observed decrease in smoking prevalence change was due to brand switching and increased excise tax, not plain packaging.

Many of Davidson’s arguments, which were echoed by the tobacco industry, have been debunked by emerging evidence of the impact of plain packaging in Australia.[16]